Saverys family-controlled Compagnie Maritime Belge is offloading a non-eco bulker as it continues to take delivery of new vessels.
European brokers reported the 205,000-dwt newcastlemax duo Mineral Charlie and Mineral Maureen (both built 2012) had been sold for $81.6m en bloc to Greek interests.
A spokesperson for CMB told TradeWinds, however, that the Mineral Charlie has not been sold, but the disposal of the Mineral Maureen is ongoing.
The bulkers, operated by the Belgian company’s Bocimar unit, are assessed by VesselsValue as worth between $36m and $37m.
The Mineral Charlie has been owned by Bocimar since delivery, while the sister vessel was bought from Tokyo Century Corp in 2022 for an undisclosed amount.
In May, executives at listed Saverys company Euronav said bulker newbuilding prices remained “interesting” despite recent rises.
But during an earnings call to discuss first-quarter results, bosses sounded unlikely to be adding to the owner’s huge ammonia-ready newcastlemax order slate.
Chief executive Alexander Saverys said that for 2028 deliveries from Chinese shipyards, “we are hearing rumours of $80m newcastlemaxes”.
No prices have been disclosed for its own new vessels, but he added: “We’re in the money on our newbuildings. That’s positive for the value of our company.”
The company has combined tanker company Euronav with the low-carbon vessels controlled by CMB.Tech, including Bocimar bulkers.
Conventional ships will be sold off over time.
Five newcastlemax newbuildings have been delivered to the group in 2023 and 2024.
And another 23 remain for handover this year through to 2027 from Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co in China.
CMB retains two other older newcastlemaxes dating from 2012, while there is another built in 2019.
